Each of the candidates in the internal search for the dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts stressed an ‘open door’ policy, one that guarantees students and faculty that their voices are an important part of decision-making.

The doors of Gifford Auditorium were open Friday afternoon for a forum that allowed VPA students and faculty to pose questions to each of the dean candidates.

But fewer than 15 students and 15 faculty members attended.

‘It will take more than just e-mails to change the culture of student engagement in the college,’ said Sky Harris, student representative to the Provost’s Advisory Committee and a graduate student in music education. ‘It’s important for faculty and administration to know that if we’re all going to move forward together, it has to be together.’

Harris attributed the low attendance at the forum to the fact that many students weren’t allowed to leave their classes or jobs at the university to attend. She also said since VPA is such a diverse college, students needed more support from faculty and administration to become engaged in the process of selecting a new dean.

The four internal candidates are Ann Clarke, from the School of Art and Design, Joseph Downing, from the Setnor School of Music, Kendall Phillips, from the department of communication and rhetorical studies and Tom Sherman, from the department of Transmedia.

Carole Brzozowski, the current dean of VPA, was selected to become the university performing arts presenter in the chancellor’s office. Originally, VPA’s dean search was to be internal, but students and faculty made it clear they wanted to expand the selection. Eric Spina, vice chancellor and provost, announced that the candidate who is selected in the internal search will serve as dean until an external search is completed.

The national search will start in September 2009.

The forum, moderated by Andrew Waggoner, chair of composition and theory in the Setnor School of Music, allowed each candidate five minutes to speak to the audience and then 25 minutes for students and faculty to ask questions.

Common issues raised included ‘open door’ engagement of students and faculty in the future of VPA, budgetary issues and allocation of funds, bringing together such a diverse college and rebuilding morale within VPA.

All candidates agreed administration must do more to encourage students to speak out on decisions made by VPA. Several candidates touched on the need for stronger fundraising that could result in renovation facilities like Crouse College and SU Art Galleries. Every candidate said they are looking to build a promising future for VPA with concrete goals and achievements.

A similar forum was held just for faculty members Thursday.

There is no direct vote in which students, faculty and administration choose the new dean. Everyone in attendance was given a feedback form to comment on each candidate’s ability to serve as dean of the college. The forms were due to the dean’s office at Crouse College by 9 a.m. today. They will be reviewed by the Provost’s Advisory Committee, which will then give recommendations to Spina, who will select the dean. Harris, the student representative, said she expects a decision will be made in the next couple of weeks.

Robert Cooney, a program coordinator in communications design, who has been working in VPA for more than 25 years, said the forum will accomplish very little.

‘I think it will inform those people who showed up, which is depressingly small, and I think it’ll have absolutely nothing to do with the selection of who the dean is,’ he said.

Tina Tesno, a senior art video major who asked questions to each of the candidates, had a more optimistic view.

She said she hopes the forms audience members submit to Spina carry weight with the decision. She expects whoever is selected as dean will improve morale within the college.

‘Just as the candidates are very diverse, everyone’s needs are very diverse,’ she said. ‘The only way that they’re going to know who is the best candidate is going to be is by looking at diverse perspectives and opinions.’

shmelike@syr.edu

Published on March 1, 2008 at 12:00 pm